5K Fun Run for Brandon Dominguez Planned by South Brunswick Fire Departments

As 9-year-old South Brunswick child Brandon Dominguez continues his fight with brain cancer, township residents are pulling together to help raise money for the Dominguez family. 

All three South Brunswick fire departments (Kendall Park, Kingston, and Monmouth Junction) are sponsoring the Stay Strong Brandon 5K Fun Run to help defray the medical expenses of transporting Brandon to his chemotherapy treatments.

"I read the  about him and I've lost a family member to cancer, so we just decided we wanted to do something to help the family," said Monmouth Junction fireman Chris Paskovich.  

Brandon was diagnosed with brain cancer in Dec., 2010 after suffering a seizure in September of that year. Soon thereafter, Brandon began chemotherapy treatments at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, five times a week for five months. Even with health insurance, the cost of transporting Brandon to New York five days a week was overwhelming, running between $400 to $500 in travel expenses each week.

After months and months of chemotherapy, Brandon's original brain tumor shrunk by 92 percent of its original size. But in November, Brandon suffered a setback when a new tumor was discovered on the stem of his brain. The tumor largely impaired Brandon's vision in his right eye and made movement on the right side of his body difficult.

After , the tumor has since confined him to a wheelchair, said Brandon's friend Dan Boyle, a member of the South Brunswick Board of Education.

Brandon, who celebrated a birthday on Dec. 2, needs the help of South Brunswick residents as he continues to fight. 

The 5K fun run will be held on Jan. 21, beginning at at. There is a recommended donation of $20, with all proceeds going to the Dominguez family.

The course will be flat and fast, running through the tree lined streets of South Brunswick before finishing back at Beech Woods Park.

"We're still working on the exact course so we can have the run pass by Brandon's house so that he'll be able to see it," Paskovich said.

Pre-Registration is due by Jan. 18, but if you don't pre-register you can still register on the day of the race. Registration will run from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on race day. Walkers are also welcome.

There will be post-race refreshments, raffles, prizes and uniquely designed t-shirts to support Brandon. Awards will be given to the top male and female runners, and for all age group categories – three deep (10 and under, 11-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over)

Please email Paskovich at Paskoc@comcast.net or call 908-208-6749. To download a registration form click here.

You can also help the Dominguez family on the web. The web site staystrongbrandon.org was recently launched to help raise funds for the Dominguez family. T-shirts are available in red, Brandon's favorite color, for $15, and display the message "Stay Strong Brandon."

Donations can also be made to the Dominguez family online.

Click here to order a "Stay Strong Brandon" t-shirt.